Meet David L Calhoun III | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with David L Calhoun III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David L, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose an artistic or creative career because that’s who I am. It’s something I just do. I’ve always done my own thing, my view of the world has always been slightly or drastically different from others. I love to constantly create, it’s a feeling or satisfaction of making something your own.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I don’t think I’m so much set apart from others, I think there’s someone out there with a similar story or who could relate to my story in its entirety or maybe in some ways. Starting out doing hair wasn’t easy because I never felt good enough and I wanted to quit. I kept comparing myself to others. I didn’t realize I was comparing my nonexperience to experience. In my mind, I wanted to come out the gate running. I don’t have many bad experiences because I always played it safe, even in school until I didn’t. I had to get out of my head. I was fortunate enough to have met Anthony Dodd before his passing.
He was a hair and makeup artist. I remember talking to him for a couple of hours about hairstyling, his career, and working in entertainment. What stands out is he said he didn’t get comfortable doing hair for 10 years. I’m fresh out of cosmetology school hearing this so it’s a relief but not. I will say being 25 years in, I have my understanding of the length of time it takes to get comfortable doing hair. Before I was always nervous about always doing a great job, don’t get me wrong it still is but there’s a comfort level of knowing I’m going to give my all to satisfy every head these hands touch. Being comfortable is also saying I don’t know but I’ll figure it out and not being afraid to still ask for help from colleagues if needed. I’ll always be a student even as a teacher.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to travel hence I love a nice hotel. I love working hard and playing harder and I love to relax just as much. This is a conversation I can’t have with many people because I find people don’t know the art of relaxation, physically and mentally. I remember as a child the weekends felt different than weekdays. I remember wanting my weekdays to feel like a weekend even if it’s just for 5 min so my week didn’t feel like it was all school. I would play music like my Mom did on Saturday just for a little piece of the weekend feeling. To this day I still do it but I’ve graduated to a sound system that plays scheduled different genres of music in my home from 10a-9p with the weekday evenings ending in jazz. I was at work styling an Actor who asked me for some suggestions on things to do in the city and they were all hotel-related. At that moment I realized I’ve been going to hotels since I began driving. I would use my paychecks to take myself to a nice restaurant and after 21 I was in hotel lobby bars and restaurants. It always felt like an escape, especially with the right music. So if a friend comes in town I’ll begin with a hotel cocktail. One of my gotos is the Intercontinental Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. I’m an Angelino so to sit on the 70th floor overlooking my city with a cocktail is enjoyable to me and a great introduction to the city before we dive in. At the hotel is one of my favorite steakhouses La Boucherie on the 71st floor and one of my favorite outdoor bars Spire73 on the 73rd floor that I frequent. Diving into LA, after cocktails I love love food. I can go on for days on all the spots I love. Stevie Creole Cafe is a favorite. I love the gumbo, fried catfish, and the whole menu, lol. I’ve been going to Stevie’s since he was Stevie’s on the strip on Crenshaw and Jefferson in Jefferson Park. The kid in me loves going to Eighty Two. It’s a modern old-school arcade that’s nostalgically fun and there’s a full bar available. Evening time rolls around, it’s time to head to Vibrato Grill Jazz on Beverly Glen. Whether you pop in and sit at the bar or make reservations to sit down and have their amazing crab cake and amazing steak it’s a great place for live jazz. These are some of the places I frequent in my city and that’s just the tip of the sphere.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, this is a loaded question…There are a few people I’d like to shout out that was part of my journey. First is my family beginning with my parents. My father wasn’t my biggest supporter in the beginning when choosing to become a Hairstylist. He worked hard to give me everything, I feel that era recognized being a Doctor, Lawyer, or getting a Business degree was more of a recognized profession/career. Now seeing what I’ve accomplished and the benefits he now recognizes my profession as a career. My Mother has always been my biggest supporter in all my different careers of interest, lol. There were many, she always said whatever you choose just be good at it. I have to admit I was interested in everything so it was very difficult to choose. I wanted to do it all. Whatever I chose I wanted it to be creative which also allowed me to do other things. Those other things include being a part-time personal chef and selling art. Back to the Shoutout, I have to thank a friend from high school for suggesting I go to cosmetology school which I thought sounded ridiculous because that was never on my radar. I finally made up my mind to go to barbering school because by this time I’d had many jobs and I didn’t just want another job I wanted a career. My barber at the time Kenny Hailey, suggested I go to cosmetology (there’s that word again, lol) school because it’s easier to get into the union with a cosmetology certification. I didn’t know I wanted to do women’s hair until I learned that skill. It’s enhancing a woman’s beauty through hairstyling and watching how it can change a bad mood to a great one or strengthen self-esteem. I enjoyed that process. Thinking I only wanted to barber I found a new love. I’m glad I listened to him because I’m now a Union Hairstylist. I slowly began working from the sidelines of film and TV by styling an actor in the trailer or at home before they went to set being that you have to be union to work on any production. I have Dontay Savoy to thank for referring me to my first job that turned me union. That was the beginning of my Union Hair career. They’re more people to name along my journey but those are the main ones that had a tremendous impact on getting this ball rolling.

Instagram: DavidCalhounHair

Twitter: DavidCalhounIII

Youtube: DavidCalhounLiving

Image Credits
Wigs By David L Calhoun III